NEW UPDATE TO THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION

[oldguyinTX]

Today I had a most interesting and enlightening conversation with Bob Young, the Vehicle Defects Investigator for the Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI). While I am not at liberty to divulge what we discussed, I can tell you that there is much more to this investigation than we realize. I was given permission to provide his contact information, and I would encourage anyone who is affected by this investigation to contact him with specific details of the problems that you are having with your 2013 RT. He does actually answer his phone and Emails. Here is his contact information:

Bob Young

[email protected]

202-366-4806

Reference PE14025

I would also encourage everyone to print out the 14 page document that Magdave posted on this forum and read it carefully. It was suggested to me to "read between the lines" as it were. NHTSA is VERY serious about this investigation, and it is moving at a rapid pace. Do yourself, and all of us RT owners a favor and contact him. Strength in numbers!

 

[Magdave]

I have had a lot of contact with Bob but he cautioned on disclosing what they are doing prior to BRP's response Shhhhh:lecturef_smilie: You are correct he is very available and wants any verifiable information from owners sent to him:thumbup:

 

[Raknid]

Today I had a most interesting and enlightening conversation with Bob Young, the Vehicle Defects Investigator for the Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI). While I am not at liberty to divulge what we discussed, I can tell you that there is much more to this investigation than we realize. I was given permission to provide his contact information, and I would encourage anyone who is affected by this investigation to contact him with specific details of the problems that you are having with your 2013 RT. He does actually answer his phone and Emails. Here is his contact information:

Bob Young

[email protected]

202-366-4806

Reference PE14025

I would also encourage everyone to print out the 14 page document that Magdave posted on this forum and read it carefully. It was suggested to me to "read between the lines" as it were. NHTSA is VERY serious about this investigation, and it is moving at a rapid pace. Do yourself, and all of us RT owners a favor and contact him. Strength in numbers!

Is he just looking at issues with the 2013 models, or previous as well. We have 2012 and get very strong fuel smells following a ride.

 

[Magdave]

Is he just looking at issues with the 2013 models, or previous as well. We have 2012 and get very strong fuel smells following a ride.

ALL models RT,RS,GS,and ST :thumbup:

 

[RBS66]

Thank you very much for the update. I will be contacting him, my 2013 RT has all the problems discussed on the site. I've posted many times about my issues hopefully they will be resolved.

 

[DaveMcC]

The beat goes on...

I bought a 2013 ST-LTD and insisted that all issues with heat and gas smells be taken care of by the dealer before delivery. The dealer insisted that he did all that my VIN# called for. So far, I haven't had a heat issue (It's never been over 75 degrees since I bought it). However, gas fumes after a ride have lingered for over 14 hours. At my required service interval, I complained of the gas fumes with the dealer and I was told that the carbon canister is supposed to take care of all the fumes, but they took no action.
It's a design flaw and should be a warranty issue with BRP or as it is happening, it will be a forced recall of all those models. It would seem smart, like GM, to finally own up to the issue and fix it rather than pretending it's only an issue with some models or some drivers.

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that he's on our side... :clap: :2thumbs:

 

[cuznjohn]

Thank you very much for the update. I will be contacting him, my 2013 RT has all the problems discussed on the site. I've posted many times about my issues hopefully they will be resolved.

did you file a case with the nhtsa if not you should

 

[Jeriatric]

Thanks for the update

BRP....Shame on you for not listening to all who tried to tell you they loved the concept, and the product but, needed you to actively pursue corrections to all the heat related issues. They pleaded for years, without so much as a peep from you. And now, it comes to this. How unfortunate.

 

[ekfraz]

DOT

I e-mailed him this afternoon and has already been replying back and forth. good man. he is really good at his job.

 

[hchays]

I agree, if you have an issue with gas fumes and/or heat issues you should contact Bob Young. He is a really nice guy that will answer his phone or call you back and has our best interest in mind. I'm sure he will be more than willing help you with your Spyder issues and questions. But, please keep in mind he can only answer certain questions due to the ongoing investigation.

 

[oldguyinTX]

I agree, if you have an issue with gas fumes and/or heat issues you should contact Bob Young. He is a really nice guy that will answer his phone or call you back and has our best interest in mind. I'm sure he will be more than willing help you with your Spyder issues and questions. But, please keep in mind he can only answer certain questions due to the ongoing investigation.

Correct, he can only answer certain questions, but if you ask the right questions, he will answer them. He cannot venture to express opinions, not his job. But there is a lot going on with this investigation and I would again encourage folks to read the document that magdave posted very carefully. There is more information there than meets the eye. Contact Bob and express your opinion/grievance, and you just might get more insight as to what NHTSA is doing to address these issues.

 

[Magdave]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Defects+Analysis+and+Crashworthiness+Division

 

[wcricks]

NTSB Investigation potential class action suit

I bought a 2013 ST-LTD and insisted that all issues with heat and gas smells be taken care of by the dealer before delivery. The dealer insisted that he did all that my VIN# called for. So far, I haven't had a heat issue (It's never been over 75 degrees since I bought it). However, gas fumes after a ride have lingered for over 14 hours. At my required service interval, I complained of the gas fumes with the dealer and I was told that the carbon canister is supposed to take care of all the fumes, but they took no action.
It's a design flaw and should be a warranty issue with BRP or as it is happening, it will be a forced recall of all those models. It would seem smart, like GM, to finally own up to the issue and fix it rather than pretending it's only an issue with some models or some drivers.

I recently traded my 2013 because of the heat issues and gas fumes. The dealer is now trying to sell my unit and I feel sorry for the guy who buys it. I spent over $2k trying to fix the issues and it cost me $6700 difference to make the trade. That is a total of $8700 spent to try to get a unit I would enjoy riding past 15 minutes. Granted, the 2014's are nicer but if my 2013 had been comfortable to ride I would have kept it.

Maybe a lawyer might be interested in finding out how many owners of 2013's would be interested in joining in on a lawsuit. I feel like I should be able to recover some of my loss but that is not the incentive. The incentive is to get BRP to acknowlege they have a problem. In my case I hope they will fix my unit for the next buyer who will soon experience the same regrets the rest of us had once we realized what we purchased.

 

[oldguyinTX]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Defects+Analysis+and+Crashworthiness+Division

You are getting close. Dig a little deeper.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I'm all in favor of having the problems fixed.
Anybody who knows me can tell I've got a bug up my butt about the poor windshield arm on the RT.
Having said that, I hope we don't make so much noise that the Spyders go the way of the Corvair.

 

[hchays]

I'm all in favor of having the problems fixed.
Anybody who knows me can tell I've got a bug up my butt about the poor windshield arm on the RT.
Having said that, I hope we don't make so much noise that the Spyders go the way of the Corvair.

I wouldn't want Spyders to go away, but on the other hand if they can't make them safe then they should make them. There's always another manufacturer out there that would be happy to accept our money.

 

[oldguyinTX]

I recently traded my 2013 because of the heat issues and gas fumes. The dealer is now trying to sell my unit and I feel sorry for the guy who buys it. I spent over $2k trying to fix the issues and it cost me $6700 difference to make the trade. That is a total of $8700 spent to try to get a unit I would enjoy riding past 15 minutes. Granted, the 2014's are nicer but if my 2013 had been comfortable to ride I would have kept it.

Maybe a lawyer might be interested in finding out how many owners of 2013's would be interested in joining in on a lawsuit. I feel like I should be able to recover some of my loss but that is not the incentive. The incentive is to get BRP to acknowlege they have a problem. In my case I hope they will fix my unit for the next buyer who will soon experience the same regrets the rest of us had once we realized what we purchased.

I have to say that I am surprised that your dealer took your 2013 in trade. They have to know that only a total moron would fork up the big bucks to buy it. If I were you, I would consider myself lucky to be down only $8,700.00 If I tried to dump mine, I would have to take about an 11K loss.

 

[MidTNDawg]

Honestly

I'm all in favor of having the problems fixed.
Anybody who knows me can tell I've got a bug up my butt about the poor windshield arm on the RT.
Having said that, I hope we don't make so much noise that the Spyders go the way of the Corvair.

I am concerned about this.

 

[oldguyinTX]

I am concerned about this.

I think that we are all concerned about this. Keep in mind that NHTSA actively keeps an eye on this forum, and they are moving very quickly to hold BRP accountable. What the final solution will be, no one knows right now, but based on my conversation with Bob Young today, my take on this is that NHTSA is going to hold BRP's feet to the fire on this "explosive" issue. Please call or Email him with your complaints/issues. They really do want to hear from owners who have these problems. It gives them more ammunition to go after BRP & force them to be proactive, not selective in how they will address this. Making deals on an individual basis is only going to hurt BRP in the long run once everything is fully disclosed, and based on my conversation with Bob Young today, it will be.